Have you ever noticed that the people sitting at the top of the corporate ladder tend to end their sentences with a period? They pause. Take a breath and let the point land on the speaker. These leaders understand that the less they say the more people will hear. They make their point, keep eye contact with their listeners, and refrain from clouding the message with stuff that isn’t important.
A pause communicates strength. It shows your listeners that you can stand with yourself, in front of others, and not clamor to fill the space between words. It is a hallmark of executive presence. A key behavior that demonstrates confidence.
Next time you are speaking to a group, share a key point and then count to 3 in your head before offering more information. If somebody jumps in to fill the space, notice what it looks like. Then make another point and pause. Repeating a confident stance is the best way to show others what it looks like.